Human triggered avalanches are possible, so good visibility and good route selection is important, especially in steep locations as indicated in the reports. Groups should be managed carefully, keeping good spacing between people to reduce loading on slopes.

Considerable

Natural avalanches may occur - and a single person load is likely to trigger an avalanche on some slopes. Good visibility and route finding in mountain terrain is important, as is experience in avalanche hazard evaluation.

High

Natural avalanches will occur - and a single person load will trigger an avalanche on some slopes. Good visibility and good route-finding in mountain terrain is essential, as is experience in avalanche hazard evaluation.

Very High

Widespread natural avalanches will occur - and a single person load will trigger an avalanche on most slopes. Good visibility and good route-finding in mountain terrain is essential, as is experience in avalanche hazard evaluation.

The avalanche hazard will be Considerable

Forcasted Snow Stability & Avalanche Hazard

Weakly bondedwindslab will continue to build affecting mostly North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres where avalanches are likely particularly in areas of steep terrain. More localised windslab will develop in sheltered areas on North and South aspects due to cross loading. Wind exposed slopes will be mainly scoured and stable. Cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forcasted Weather Influences

It will remain cold; freezing level between 500 and 600 metres. Snow showers, potentially heavy at times will continue on strong West-North-Westerly winds.

Key Snow Stability Observations

Observed Avalanche Hazard - 31/03/2015

The avalanche hazard is Considerable

Observed Weather Influences

Snow showers, heavy at times on strong Westerly winds, freezing at around 700 metres.

Observed Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazard

New accumulations of weakly bondedwindslab have developed on North-East to South-East aspects mainly above 900 metres. More localised deposits have formed in lee areas of North and South aspects due to cross loading. Elsewhere is generally wind scoured and stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable

Comments

A cold wintry day, blizzard conditions expected over the next 24 hours.

Weekly Snowpack Summary

26/03/2015

From the start of the period (fri 20th) the snowpack underwent a number of freeze thaw cycles and became generally well bonded and stable, some limited snowfall presented localised accumulations. New snowfall, without wind overnight on Tue 24th gave a blanket cover of snow. This layer of soft snow with poorly bonded grains has created a weak foundation which is currently covered with deepening windslab accumulations, this will continue to build in the coming days.

19/03/2015

At the start of the period the saturated snow refroze and stabilised. Some new snowfall over the weekend period arrived but amounts were small, presenting limited windslab of moderate instability above 1000 metres. Warmer temperatures and then refreezing have developed a stable snowpack.

12/03/2015

The saturated snowpack at the start of the period (7th March) refroze and stabilised at the start of the week. A series of storms with very strong winds followed, depositing new unstable windslab onto mainly NW through N to E aspects above 900m. Currently, instabilities remain in the snowpack at higher levels but todays rainfall and a re-freeze (Fri 13th) should help stabilise the snowpack.

05/03/2015

Cold temperatures with snow showers on mainly Westerly winds over the past week. Accumulations of unstable windslab became more widespread on North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. Currently the snowpack is thawing at all levels; instabilities are present on these aspects mostly in steep convex terrain. Cornice collapse also a hazard.

27/02/2015

Heavy snowfall and winds at the start of the week presented an unstable snowpack limited mainly to Northerly to Easterly aspects, elsewhere very wind scoured. A thaw midweek provided stabilisation before a new cycle of storms and snowfall arrived on thursday 26th presenting areas of unstable windslab.

19/02/2015

Any subsurface weak layers have been stabilised by the recent warm spell, thaw and refreeze (18th-19th Feb). A new period of wintry weather, snowfall and strong winds will present a dynamic avalanche hazard situation for the next week.

12/02/2015

At the start of the period (6th feb), weak layers remained deep in the snowpack. The recent fine weather and warmer temperatures have slowly penetrated the snowpack and improved stability. Shaded North to North-East aspects remained cold however and surface instabilities have developed here. This may present a buried unstable layer with the forecasted new snow cover from the 13th feb.

05/02/2015

A period with an arctic weather system provided significant snowfall and very cold temperatures. The very cold temperatures resulted in instabilities persisting deep in the recent deposits of drifted snow on mainly East to Southerly aspects. In the last few days slightly warmer air temperatures have slowly started to penetrate the snowpack improving stability, but deep in the snowpack, cold temperatures and instabilities remain for the time being.

29/01/2015

The old snowpack has been through a number of thaw freeze cycles and is now firm and stable. Winds have been mostly strong Westerly. Very cold conditions at present with snow showers. Recently formed accumulations of weakly bonded windslab are affecting steep lee areas.

22/01/2015

Warmer conditions stabilised the snowpack initially in the period. The onset of much colder conditions has presented persistent weak layers at depth, snowfall, strong winds and drifting have presented hard windslab that overlies the weaker layers in many places.

22/01/2015

Warmer conditions stabilised the snowpack initially in the period. The onset of much colder conditions has presented persistent weak layers at depth, snowfall, strong winds and drifting have presented hard windslab that overlies the weaker layers in many places.

15/01/2015

A week of stormy conditions, which included some freeze/thaw cycles. Over the last few days weakly bonded windslab accumulations became more widespread due to very strong winds and snowfall. Currently new accumulations of weakly bonded windslab lie on Northerly to Easterly aspects above 800m.

08/01/2015

A mix of mild and cold temperatures over the last seven days with heavy rain and snowfall. New accumulations of weakly bonded windslab developed; however during the thaw freeze cycles there were periods of instability followed by a re-frozen stable snowpack. Currently new accumulations of weakly bonded windslab continue to develop. The old snowpack remains firm and stable.

01/01/2015

A deep thaw midweek has reduced the snowpack in extent. The snowpack is moist to depth becoming softer but consolidated and generally stable. Colder temperatures in the coming days will eliminate any previous weaknesses that existed (buried surface hoar) and become refrozen and solid. New unstable windslab will progressively develop.

29/12/2014

Continual westerly winds, cold temperatures but very little snowfall has accumulated very localised deposits on mainly E aspects above 900m over the last 10 days. Cold nights have produced surface hoar which is now buried 10 cm or so below surface in some places producing failures in the snowpack with steep convex terrain most affected. Snow cover generally thin in most places.

18/12/2014

Storm force westerly winds and significant snowfall at the start of December produced unstable conditions. Warmer periods with rain to summit levels has diminished the snowpack and a slow consolidation and stabilisation has taken place. The arrival of colder conditions and snow fall thursday evening will present another period of instability.

17/04/2014

Snowpack is diminished in extent but remains in large areas above 800 metres on mainly North to East aspects. Snowpack continues to undergo freeze thaw cycles and remains dense firm and stable throughout.

14/04/2014

The snowpack is gradually diminishing and is generally well bonded and stable in all locations. Glide cracks continue to widen on many steep slopes and remaining cornices prone to spontaneous collapse.

03/04/2014

The snowpack has progressively become more dense and consolidated as the week has progressed and is generally stable throughout the area. Cornices have presented a continual hazard and their stability remains very unpredictable.

27/03/2014

Cold temperatures and new snowfall created an unstable snowpack in isolated locations at high levels at the start of the period. Thaw and re-freeze stabilised the snowpack completely midweek. New snowfall with strong wind has presented poorly bonded windslab on limited aspects mainly above 900m at the end of the week.

20/03/2014

Diminished snowpack with rain to all levels and freezing levels above the summits during last week. Snowpack though has compacted, is dense and generally stable even though soft in places. Cornices have always remained a threat. Cold temperatures have started to re-freeze the snowpack at period end. Fresh windslab beginning to build.

14/03/2014

The snowpack has been thawing at all levels leading to a mostly stable snowpack with some surface instabilities in areas of steep terrain. Earlier in the week weakly bonded windslab consolidated after a thaw. light snowfall followed this with localised weakly bonded accumulations developing above 1000m. This has since thawed and consolidated.

06/03/2014

Freeze then thaw conditions continue to effect the snowpack, calm but snowy conditions at the start of the week presented a weak layer once it became buried, this was still present at the end of the week but rain and thaw conditions followed by a re-freeze has improved this situation. New snowfall and wind presents new windslab hazard.

27/02/2014

Old snowpack has gone through thaw and then freeze cycles and has become generally well bonded and stable. New accumulations of fresh snow present surface instabilities in steep wind sheltered places but these tend to improve with fluctuating temperatures and if calm periods persist.

20/02/2014

Storm cycles followed by more settled weather, leaving instabilities at depth on steep convex terrain. A thaw at all levels followed with wet snow avalanches, now the snowpack is beginning to consolidate again in cooler temperatures.

13/02/2014

Storm cycles continuing, very windy and cold. Periods between storms where snowpack stabilised but more heavy snowfall, with drifting creating new hazard. Some sugar like weak faceted crystals have developed due to cooler temperatures over the last few days.

06/02/2014

Continuing storm cycles with cold and very windy conditions, heavy snow and drifting presenting very unstable snowpack situations. Snowpack beginning to stabilise during calm periods but new storm cycles present new avalanche hazard.

30/01/2014

Strong South-East winds have predominated producing heavy drifting and deep windslab accumulations. Calm but snowy conditions midweek produced a weak layer. This is now covered by windslab to varying depths and presents a persistent weak layer and an unstable snowpack.

24/01/2014

Continual Southerly winds with snow have built significant windslab deposits on all Northerly aspects, very unstable at start of week. Cycles of thaws to summit levels then freezing conditions Improves snowpack stability but new instabilities and weak windslab soon follow. A dynamic and unstable week.

16/01/2014

Thaw then re-freeze cycles have stabilised the snowpack in all areas. Localised, progressively weakening windslab that was present earlier in the weak has therefore been stabilised. New windslab formations are developing on Northerly aspects.

10/01/2014

A week ago, conditions were very unsettled with snowfall and Strong mostly Southerly winds. The snowpack was weakly bonded especially above 900m on NW through N to E aspects. Avalanches Occured on Northerly aspects. This was followed by melt freeze cycles which aided snowpack stabilisation. Now the snowpack is generally well bonded in most locations. Small pockets of windslab lie on N to W aspects above 950m around corrie rims and gully tops.

02/01/2014

Continuing windslab formation with strong winds on mainly North West through North to East aspects above 950 metres mainly. Brief freeze thaw cycles affect windslab with surface crusts and only partially bridge the weaknesses that remain at depth. Corrie rims, gullies and convex terrain affected.

27/12/2013

A week of strong winds and snowfall, with thaw freeze cycles mainly below 900m; however extensive weakly bonded accumulations of windslab have been affecting mostly NW to NE aspects above 850 metres leading to Considerable conditions in these areas and generally moderate below this altitude with localised Considerable in lee areas.

19/12/2013

Old snow has been refrozen. New deposits of wind slab have been deposited on North to North East slopes. Deep drifts of fresh snow interspersed with scoured patches of hard snow. The general cover is still sparse.